Farewell sunset - Day 41 (Sun 29 Sep)

Towards the end of a day cleaning and packing, Kim, Steven and family called in for a farewell chat.
Talk was very much about the Gilbert family (cousin) wedding yesterday - country style wedding at Purple Valley followed by a reception and community dance at Wiarton.
We had seen the Purple Valley Hall all prepared on Thursday.


 

 

Our farewell blessing from Colpoys Bay was a special sunset with different lights from any that we have seen yet, especially highlighting the "fall" colourings from over the bay.

 

 

Devils Monument and more - Day 40 (Sat 28 Sep)

A day at home on Day 39 (Friday) - shopping, some house work, gardening, mowing - culminating very happily with Kim, Steven and Jordan coming for "supper" (Aussie "Tea").

Saturday (Day 40) dawned another beautiful autumn day so we headed out exploring again, amidst early but richening fall colours.

First call, down a country lane to revisit the old "Gilbert" house, now part of the Bruce Trail.

 

 

 

On to the Devils Monument, formed over 5,000 years ago in the glacial lake that became Lake Huron. It stands like a pillar, out from the escarpment. 
 (John spent some time working on a sketch of it.)

  

 

 

 

 

A small spring fed waterfall at the base of the Devils Monument.

The beach below was difficult to reach but promised to justify the climb.

Neither the sign nor the nickers were ours.
Promises! Promises! Nothing there but stones and water. Well ...
"Bummer!!!...???"

Please don't offer counselling about skin cancer. The shot was specially set up (on a whim) for your enjoyment. Clothing is just south of the border and I was only like it for about two minutes.
I think we've been on holiday too long.

For some time we had the whole stony beach to ourselves and just sat having lunch and soaking up the  sound of the waves on the shore - balm for the soul.

 

Back across the peninsula to the sandy Lake Huron shore.

 

People there were all out enjoying the sunshine. 

The above two shots were at Howdenvale, a small lakeside (partly tourist) town.

Then back home to our chipmunk, winter wrens and robins. 

 

A day out with Kim - Day 38 (Thur 26 Sep)

The ever changing Colpoys Bay - yesterday mist ...

today reflections.

Today, off with Kim for more Bruce Trail hiking and other sight seeing, ending with attending the Rotary Club of Wiarton as guests with her.

 Home scenes - the tree where Kim and her brother used to play ..

the rural Canadian answer to the Hills Hoist - a long line mounted on pulleys so that clothes can be pegged on at one point (often a rear deck) and then run out.

The Bruce Trail loop walk at Hope Bay.

 

 

 

 

A snack of apples along the way, this variety both sweet and crisp - a "Snow Apple". Note the pink colour in the flesh. When mellow, they apparently make a delicious pink coloured apple sauce.

 

Jackson Cove

Barrow Bay

 White Bluff and Lions Head at opposite ends of Isthmus Bay.
We stopped in the township of Lions Head for afternoon coffee.

 

More Inukshuks.

 

Skinners Bluff and Bruce Caves - Day 37 (Wed 25 Sep)

After a dawn with the bay shrouded in mist, beautiful sunshine and blue skies.
Increasing "fall" colours and more of those magnificent Canadian bush fences on the way to Skinners Bluff, across the bay from where we are living.

 

A pleasant woodland walk and a challenge to courage to get out onto one of the two lookout points.

 

 

 The rewards?

 

 

On the way back to the car (Beth gets the shot again.).
Notice the full cheeks of this little chipmunk, collecting winter food.

Bruce Caves are in the face of the escarpment that forms Skinners Bluff and in the same formation as the "black holes" that we saw yesterday on the elk farm.